Stephen Corby recounts in Sydney's Daily Telegraph how cricketers have to deal with adoration of the public - often drunk and full of tales of third grade cricket.

I was jaw-smackingly horrified as he revealed to me the rubbish he had just been spouting to The Greatest Fast Bowler who ever lived.

The only saving grace was that, being less familiar with the Swahili-slur of said friend than I, McGrath probably missed most of it. He didn’t punch him, anyway, which was a good sign. The highlights included: “Yeah, you were all right, but you should have retired years ago.”

“You’re nothing special, really, I mean, you jush did the bas-hic!s well.”

“I play third grade cricket for Mosman, and I reckon I could belt you all over the park.”